France

Self Guided, Wine Tours

Moderate

May - Oct

£
660.00 pp

7 nights

This holiday can be done as a continuous 13 night holiday starting in Le Puy and finishing in St Jean du Gard, with 12 days walking. Or you can choose one of the sections: Le Puy to Chasseradeas – 7 nights, 6 days walking Chasserades to St Jean du Gard – 7 nights, 6 days […]

Not Included:
lunches or picnics, diner in St Jean du Gard, drinks, visits, travel from/ to home , any shuttles to shorten the stages.

Departure Dates:

April 1 to October 7th (luggage transfers stop from 15 October.

Le Puy to Chasseradeas – 7 nights, 6 days walking.

Day 1: Le Puy en Velay 613 m

Arrival at the hotel – dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Le Puy – Le Monastier Sur Gazeille 930 m

This is the first stage, which takes you to Monastier, from where R. L Stevenson began his journey. Leave the built-up area of Le Puy, continue through Coubon, and arrive finally at Le Monastier sur Gazeille.

(300m ascent in all)

Stage 19 km long; about 4 to 5 hours walk

Day 3: Le Monastier Sur Gazeille– Le Bouchet St Nicolas 1220 m

This stage takes you to Goudet in the valley of the Loire (785 m) passing first through Courmarcès (975m), and St Martin de Fugères (1000m). Then the route goes to Montagnac (950m) and Ussel (1025 m) finally crossing the volcanic plateaus until you arrive at Le Bouchet St Nicolas.

From Langogne, the route continues to St Flour de Mercoire (1049m); this is a wooded section of the trail. Then it goes down into Cheylard l’Evèque. (Very little ascent)

Stage 22 km long; about 4 hours walk

Day 6: Cheylard L’eveque – La Bastide Puylaurent 1024 m

Leave Cheylard, go to Luc (971m), then Rogleton (990m). From here the route goes to the abbey of « Notre Dame des Neiges » (8km off the GR) before going on to La Bastide. The abbey is home to Cistercian

monks who produce wine.

Stage 19 km long; about 4 to 5 hours walk

Day 7: La Bastide Puylaurent – Chasserades 1150 m

A relatively short stage, allowing for relaxation before your departure the following morning.

Stage 12 km long; about 3 hours walk

Day 8: Chasserades

The holiday ends after breakfast.

Chasserades to St Jean du Gard – 7 nights, 6 days walking.

Day 1: Chasserades 1150 m:

Arrive at the hotel dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Chasserades – Le Bleymard 1069 m 14 km 3 to 4 hours

This is the first of two stages that takes one to the highest point of the Stevenson Trail. Set off first to L’Estampe, at 1160 m, and continue to Le Bleymard.

Day 3: Le Bleymard – Pont de Montvert 875 m 16 km 4 to 5 hours

The route goes up on to Mont Lozère, a ski station. After this it goes down into the valley to Finiels, which is situated at 1 220 m. Continue until you arrive at Le Pont de Montvert.

Day 4: Pont de Montvert – Florac 546 m 26 km 7 to 8 hours

This is the longest stage of our journey into the heart of the Cévennes. During this stage the route crosses the pass, the Col du Sapet (1080 m), then it goes down to Bédouès (560 m), before going to Florac. (This is a difficult stage with a lot of uphill and downhill walking)

It is possible at way-mark 41 to take a short cut to Florac following another long-distance footpath: the GR 68 (route notes explain). This will take 4km off the total length of this stage.

Day 5: Florac – Cassagnas 693 m 16 km 4 to 5 hours

This is a relatively short stage but with some ups and downs. It goes first to St Julien d’Arpaon (610m), and then on to the old station of Cassagnas.

Day 6: Cassagnas – St Etienne Vallee Francaise

This short stage is easier – however, it is still necessary to climb over the Col de la Pierre Plantée at 891 m, before going down into St Germain de Calberte, then St Etienne : 22 km.

Day 7: St Etienne Vallee Francaise – St Jean du Gard

Finally the last stage takes us to where R.L.STEVENSON ended his journey and sold his donkey. 12 km.

Day 8: St Jean du Gard

The holiday ends after breakfast.

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